The “O Antiphon” for December 18 is, O Adonai (sacred Lord) and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

On cold winter days in northern Wisconsin we would work in the woods.  The woods provided protection from the wind and seemed warmer.  Dad would set a big brush pile on fire to provide warmth.  I’m not sure what we would have done, if God had spoken from the pile burning brush.

When God called to Moses out of a burning bush, he answered, “Here I am.”  However, the conversation quickly degenerated as Moses offered excuses for making him the choice to deliver Israel “out of the hand of the Egyptians.”  “Send someone else,” he pleaded.

Wouldn’t you have willingly and faithfully obeyed the Lord’s command?  Well then, why don’t we obey him now?  After all, we have been delivered from slavery to sin through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The Lord did send someone else.  He sent Jesus, who stretched out his arm on the cross and bought us back from slavery to sin and death.